First 8 Memphis
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05/22/2026
To all of the educators and care providers guiding, nurturing, and supporting young children every day: your well-being matters, too! đź’š
The work you do to support young children requires patience, presence, and compassion. Prioritizing your own mental and emotional well-being isn't separate from that work; it's part of it. When educators and caregivers are well supported, children gain the consistency and connection they need to build confidence, resilience, and a strong foundation for learning.
This MentalDonna Davis Presents, for sharing practical, meaningful strategies that support the people who shapenth, we are highlighting insights from leadership and wellness strategist Donna Davis on protecting educator well-being and preventing burnout in early childhood spaces. From pausing to reset the nervous system to leaning on community and letting go of perfection, Donna reminds us that caring for ourselves isn't separate from caring for children—it's an essential part of it.
"When educators feel supported and emotionally well, they bring greater presence, patience, and joy into their classrooms each day."
Thank you, Donna Davis Presents , for sharing practical, meaningful strategies that support the people shaping our youngest learners every day. 🫶
Donna is a minister, author, motivational speaker, certified life coach, and AI consultant.
👉 Learn more about Donna Davis Consulting at donnadavispresents.com
05/18/2026
Supporting young children starts with supporting the educators who care for them every day.
Registration is now open for our 2026–27 Early Care & Education (ECE) Providers Training Series. This 10-month learning opportunity is designed to equip ECE professionals with proven, practical strategies to support students, teachers, and classroom communities amid challenging behaviors.
From social-emotional learning and family engagement to classroom management and developmentally appropriate practices, this series is rooted in the real needs of today’s early childhood workforce. The training is approved by TrainTN and recognized by the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Registration Deadline: July 1, 2026
$1,050 stipend for full participation
Don't miss out! Get complete details and register today: bit.ly/4nz8de7
Nearly 50% of children entering foster care are between birth and age 5. Every 10 seconds, a child aged birth to 3 is placed in out-of-home care somewhere in the United States.
This is why the launch of Shelby County’s first Safe Baby Court matters!
“Supporting babies means supporting families, relationships, and the systems that surround them,” said Dr. Kandace Thomas, Executive Director of First 8 Memphis and member of the Board of ZERO TO THREE, the national organization supporting the implementation and sustainability of Safe Baby Courts across the country.
Last week, we joined the Juvenile Court of Memphis & Shelby County along with community leaders and partners, to celebrate a major step toward a more connected, trauma-informed approach to supporting young children and families in Memphis.
We are proud and ready to support this work through advocacy, systems alignment, training, and partnership so we can help our community provide the best services for young children!
"We have to increase the quality" of early care and education! - Dr. Kandace Thomas, F8M Executive Director
In 2024, our Leadership Council finalized High-Quality Indicators for prenatal to 8 care, see below:
- Safe & Welcoming Environments
- Developmentally Appropriate, School Readiness Instruction
- Continuous Development & Support of Educators
- Two Generational Family Partnership
Our vision remains the same a community where every child has the resources to thrive. Read more about our High-Quality Indicators at first8memphis.org/early-childhood-system
04/27/2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Make a Circle documentary screening. We’re grateful for your time, engagement, and commitment to strengthening early childhood in our community.
Together, we deepened our understanding of the early childhood workforce and explored how civic engagement can shape policies and opportunities for young children and families. We’re excited to see how you carry this momentum forward as advocates in Shelby County.
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Address
1350 Concourse Avenue Suite 481
Memphis, TN
38103
Opening Hours
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
